Summer Warmth Leaves Homes Vulnerable

Summertime temperatures bring people out of homes they're weary from being in for the past eight months, but Muskego Police are reminding citizens to make sure you're not forgetting safety when you're away, even if it's just in the backyard

"Just make sure when you are enjoying the outside, that no one is taking the opportunity to help themselves to your personal property inside your house," said Lt. David Constantineau. 

"We receive several reports each year from people who were in their backyard, or on part of their property out of sight of the house, and discovered someone had entered their home while they weren’t looking and ripped them off.  Most times it was through an unlocked screen door or some other unsecured entrance.  Other people, like me, just can’t bring themselves to crank up that air conditioner yet, so they leave the door open when they go to bed," he said.  "They wake up to find someone had been, or is in, their home who is not supposed to be there."  

Constantineau said that he's not recommending keeping the house closed up like it is in the middle of January, but to be smart about securing your home.

"If you are outside, keep the entrances you can’t see latched.  Even if you are in the house, there is nothing wrong with keeping the screen door locked.  If you lock your door in the winter when you are home, why wouldn’t you do it in the summer?  If you want to leave the windows open for ventilation when you aren’t home, go ahead, just don’t open them far enough for a person to crawl through," he explained.  

Constantineau recommended investing in some safety items like screen and window locks that prevent opening them wide. 

In addition, as the grills are lit for barbecues, residents are reminded to exercise common sense when considering the proximity of the grill to your home.

"A charcoal grill near the home and wind can be a catastrophic combination," Constantineau said.  "Please be careful where you put your grill.  City ordinance requires open fires to be at least 30 feet from a building.  While this doesn’t apply to grills, it’s not a bad idea to use that as a measuring stick.  Nobody wants to see a barbecue turn into a tragedy."